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B-1 bombers flew within about 50 miles from Venezuela on Thursday as the United States continues to strike drug boats departing from the South American country. Asked about the flights during a panel discussion at the White House on Thursday, Trump denied that two B-1 Lancers had flown close to Venezuela. “Not accurate,” said Trump when asked about a report of the flights published in The Wall Street Journal. “No, it’s false, but we’re not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons. Drugs being one of them.” The flights have been tracked on flight radars. The two bombers took off from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas on Thursday and flew near Venezuela, but remained over international waters, according to WSJ. The flights followed a show of force last week when B-52 bombers and F-35B jet fighters operated by the U.S. Air Force and Marines flew near an island off the coast of Venezuela. The U.S. military has blown up at least seven boats in international waters in the Caribbean said to be carrying deadly drugs to the United States, and another two boats in the Pacific. President Donald Trump has accused the leadership of Venezuela and Colombia of facilitating the transport of drugs in the United States. Trump said on Thursday that drugs coming to the United States by water have plummeted because of military action, and he suggested that strikes could soon be conducted against drug cartels and narco-terrorists on land, as well. Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to DailyWire.com/Subscribe to join now. “Now, they’re coming in by land, and even the land is concerned because I told them that’s going to be next,” the president said. “We may go to the Congress and tell them about it, but I can’t imagine they would have any problem with it. I think, in fact, while we’re here, I think it’s a good idea, Pete, you go to Congress, you tell them about it. What are they going to do? Say, ‘gee, we don’t want to stop drugs pouring in?’ They’re killing 300,000 people per year.” Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, on whom the Trump administration has placed a $50 million bounty, claimed on Wednesday that thousands of Russian-made anti-air missiles are placed strategically around the country to handle any threats from the air. “Any military force in the world knows the power of the Igla-S and Venezuela has no less than 5,000” of the missiles, Maduro said, according to CNN. Last week, Trump said that Maduro has offered “everything” to the United States. “He’s offered everything,” said Trump. “You know why? Because he doesn’t want to f*** around with the United States.”

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Scotland is taking a brilliant step toward environmental justice with a proposed law that could make it the first UK nation to criminalize ecocide, a term used to describe large-scale, long-lasting, or irreversible damage to the environment. The Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, recently introduced in the Scottish Parliament, would treat ecocide as a serious criminal offense, not just a regulatory violation. If passed, it could carry prison sentences of up to 20 years for individuals and unlimited fines for corporations. “This bill is about putting real teeth behind our commitment to protect nature,” said one supporter. A shift in accountability for environmental harm At its core, the bill defines ecocide as any act, whether intentional or reckless, that results in significant environmental destruction. Unlike current environmental laws, which typically result in fines or regulatory consequences, this bill elevates environmental harm to the level of criminal conduct. Holding leaders and corporations responsible A notable feature of the legislation is its focus on accountability at the highest levels. Senior managers, company directors, and public officials could be prosecuted if they allowed environmental damage to occur under their watch or failed to act to prevent it. If enacted, corporations could face unlimited financial penalties, be held liable for cleanup costs, and be publicly named for their violations. “Too often, those in power evade responsibility while communities bear the consequences. This bill aims to change that,” said a representative from Friends of the Earth Scotland. Broad support across society and the globe Support for the bill is strong and wide-ranging. Environmental groups like RSPB Scotland and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society have publicly backed it. An open letter signed by more than 100 prominent global figures, including lawyers, faith leaders, and activists, has urged lawmakers to pass the legislation. The public seems equally supportive. According to the 2024 Global Commons Survey, nearly 75 percent of people in G20 countries believe political and corporate leaders should be criminally liable for serious environmental harm. A ripple effect across nations Scotland is not alone in this movement. Belgium, France, and Ukraine already enacted ecocide laws. Other countries, such as Brazil, Mexico, and Italy, are considering similar measures. On a global scale, Pacific Island nations such as Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa have formally proposed adding ecocide to the Rome Statute, which defines the world’s gravest crimes like genocide and war crimes. The European Union has also updated its regulations, requiring member states to adopt criminal penalties for severe environmental destruction by 2026. Most recently, the Council of Europe approved a treaty that allows countries to prosecute environmental harm resulting in large-scale disasters. What this could mean for everyday life in Scotland If the bill passes, it could influence how businesses and governments approach environmental responsibility. Companies might adopt more rigorous sustainability standards, especially when operating near sensitive habitats. Local communities could see stronger protections and real consequences for polluters. Andrea Carter, a sustainability expert, noted, “This isn’t just symbolic. It could change how industries operate across the board.” The road to 2026 The bill is currently being reviewed by the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee. This phase will include expert testimony, public consultation, and analysis of how the law could be implemented. Agencies like the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Police Scotland are expected to play key roles in enforcement. Lawmakers have until 2026, when the current parliamentary session ends, to pass the bill. For now, the process continues. If approved, Scotland would send a powerful message that environmental destruction will no longer go unpunished.The post Scotland moves to criminalize ecocide with bold new legislation first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Just steps from the White House and tucked beside the bustle of Western Market food hall, a brightly lit vending machine is turning heads. But it’s not dispensing snacks or sodas. This one offers up something a little more nourishing: books. It’s called LitBox, and instead of chips and candy bars, it serves works by Washington, D.C.-area authors, including those from small presses or overlooked by traditional bookstores. For creator Lauren Woods, LitBox is more than a quirky idea; it’s a passion project designed to make local literature more accessible and the publishing world more inclusive. From frustration to innovation Woods, an award-winning fiction author herself, was inspired by a European book vending machine and a problem she saw closer to home: friends with powerful, prize-winning work who couldn’t get their books into local stores. “I had friends who wrote award-winning books and couldn’t get their books into D.C. bookstores because they were smaller presses, or they didn’t have a mass appeal,” she said. “And that always seemed wrong to me.” So she launched LitBox in May, partly out of frustration and partly as an experiment. The vending machine now stands as a colorful beacon for book lovers and passersby alike. The idea is to give everyone a chance to encounter literature from outside the usual commercial mold. Small press, big impact While most of the industry still revolves around the “Big Five” publishers, Woods believes quality doesn’t always align with mass-market metrics. “Although those bigger books are going to be marketed differently, when they are marketed equally, they sell pretty equally,” she noted. So far, the sales back her up. Readers are scooping up small press titles from LitBox at rates nearly equal to those from major publishers. And in a city where arts funding has taken a hit, especially after recent cuts by the current administration, this grassroots literary lifeline is proving its worth. “Everyone is telling you that your words and your voice don’t matter,” Woods said. “LitBox is my way of saying: Actually, they do.” Bookworms, meet your local authors LitBox’s rotating selection features everything from poetry and fiction to children’s books, all by D.C.-area writers. Selections have included Let’s Get Back to the Party by Zak Salih, Little Witch’s To-Do List by Helen Kemp Zax, and Be with Me Always by Randon Billings Noble. Author Majda Gama, whose poetry collection is featured in the machine, likens the experience to grabbing a newspaper from a box on the street. “The average person might just want to interact with a local writer without knowing anything about them,” she said. Western Market’s Danielle Fisher says LitBox fits right into the community-first vibe of the space. “The idea that LitBox showcases local authors really was a special touch.” A literary future beyond the big publishers Woods crowdfunded nearly $7,000 to launch the project and now envisions expansion across D.C., especially in neighborhoods that might not typically have access to indie books. She’s hosted events like a book crawl and other literary happenings at the site, making it more than just a machine. It’s a movement. “I’m so proud to live in this city, and it doesn’t get enough good attention,” Woods said. “LitBox is my way of sharing my pride in the people I live with and talk to every day.” With one simple but powerful idea, Woods is helping rewrite the rules of access and visibility in publishing.  The post A novel idea: how one D.C. book vending machine is uplifting local authors first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'it's typically done early in investigation'

Hakeem Jeffries Threatens Donors to White House Ballroom

The race for the lieutenant governor's office in Alabama will now include a former NFL quarterback thanks to the influence of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.A.J. McCarron cited Kirk in his video announcement Thursday more than a year after his last stint as the quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals football team.'It's time for political newcomers and outsider candidates like me to lead the battle.'"Today, Alabama's conservative and cultural values are under attack from every direction. That's why Charlie Kirk's assassination affected so many of us so deeply," McCarron said in the video.He is running as a Republican and hearkened back to his endorsement of then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016."The Montgomery insiders and career politicians have had their chance. It's time for political newcomers and outsider candidates like me to lead the battle," he added.Also running for the office is Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, pastor Dean Odle, and Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate."Alabama is my home — it's made me who I am, and I feel led from above to give back to the state that has given me so much," McCarron continued in the video."So, if you're ready for a new voice, a fresh perspective, and want Alabama to remain the nation's conservative and moral leader, just remember one simple phrase — A.J. for L.G.," he added.RELATED: Roger Goodell dismisses outrage over Bad Bunny performing Super Bowl show The Alabama primaries are scheduled for May 19, 2026.McCarron played in college for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide before getting drafted by the Bengals in 2014. He played for various other teams, including the Houston Texans and the Atlanta Falcons.He led the Alabama team to back-to-back national championship titles.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

President Donald Trump’s plan to build a grand new White House ballroom is underway, and the media and celebrity class have melted down into unhinged hysterics, per usual.In a segment on “The View,” former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre resurfaced to join the madness, telling the always-rational panel that “the people’s house is basically being sold to the highest bidder.”“It is corruption at its core. And I heard someone say this when I was backstage. It could not be, there’s no greater metaphor right now than what’s happening right now in this country than watching Donald Trump take a wrecking ball to the White House,” she added.“But why do they let him get away with it? He has all of these people who just let him get away with whatever he wants to do,” Joy Behar chimed in.“That’s what he’s been doing for the nine, ten months, like the powers that are in the D.C. are not standing up. They’re acting as if they’re powerless ... like no, you all have power. You all have power. Do something with it,” Jean-Pierre added.“I will note,” BlazeTV host Stu Burguiere says on “Stu Does America,” “for a woman who constantly read every single answer she gave while she was in the White House and was the press secretary, you have to love her saying that she heard her point that she made on 'The View' from someone backstage, proving she’s never had an original thought in her entire life.”Maria Shriver also weighed in on Trump’s renovation, writing in a post on X: “This breaks my heart and it infuriates me. Hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new ballroom. Good god.”“Someone who just knows frugality,” Burguiere jokes.However, the bill for the renovations is not being laid at the taxpayers feet, rather, it’s all privately donated — which is why the construction has continued despite the government shutdown.“All the reporters that normally would be complaining about the shutdown because Republicans were responsible for it now have nothing to do because they can’t complain about the Democratic shutdown. So they’re just going to take pictures of the White House and complain about that,” Stu says.Want more from Stu?To enjoy more of Stu's lethal wit, wisdom, and mockery, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.